Russian submarine activity alarms Royal Navy

HMS Queen Elizabeth begins her maiden transatlantic voyage today and will take part in a test for US supersonic jetsANDREW MATTHEWS/PA WIRE

Russian submarine activity has become “frightening” and “eye-watering”, the captain of Britain’s new aircraft carrier has warned as it sets sail today on its maiden transatlantic voyage.

Stealth fighter-bomber jets will land on HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time when she arrives in the US and it is the first time in eight years that Britain has deployed an aircraft carrier at sea.

Commodore Jerry Kyd, the ship’s commanding officer, said that Russia had shown “clear intent” by increasing naval activity. The Royal Navy responded 33 times to Russian warships approaching British waters last year, compared with once in 2010.